News and Information

St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma and Franciscan Cardiothoracic Surgery Associates have earned the elite 3-Star rating for excellence in cardiac surgery from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS).

Only 12 percent of the 1,100 U.S. hospital programs evaluated by STS receive a 3-Star grade, which is the highest score given by the national organization of cardiac and thoracic surgeons. St. Joseph and Franciscan Cardiothoracic Surgery Associates, which is located at the medical center, are part of the Franciscan Health System

"This rating by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons is a testament to our commitment to excellence, quality, and patient-centered care," said Gilbert Johnston, MD, FACS, medical director for cardiovascular surgery at Franciscan Cardiothoracic Surgery Associates.

The STS provides its comprehensive rating system to help surgeons and hospitals assess the quality of heart surgery provided across the nation. The program at St. Joseph Medical Center is evaluated by the STS each year.

St. Joseph Medical Center is the leading provider of cardiovascular surgery and related medical services in the South Puget Sound region. The hospital's cardiac services include minimally invasive heart valve repair and replacement surgeries; state-of-the-art catheterization labs where cardiologists diagnose and treat heart problems; the Heart Failure Clinic that provides outpatient support for individuals diagnosed with congestive heart failure; and an array of education, prevention and rehabilitation programs. Additionally, vascular surgeons and neuro-interventional radiologists at St. Joseph diagnose and treat vascular diseases that may block blood flow to the arms, neck, legs and brain.

Founded in 1964, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons is a not-for-profit organization representing more than 6,600 surgeons, researchers and allied health care professionals worldwide who are dedicated to ensuring the best possible outcomes for surgeries of the heart, lung, and esophagus, as well as other surgical procedures within the chest.